Tauranga City Council has narrowly voted in favour of establishing a Māori ward at the next local elections in 2022.
There was haka and applause in the public gallery as councillors voted 6 to 4 with one councillor abstaining, for the establishment of a single Māori ward.
They also voted eight to three in favour of giving tangata whenua representatives sitting on council committees voting rights.
Meriana Johnsen reports.
